You probably haven't given much thought to having a worm as a pet.
But if a cat, dog or other pet is out of the question, you might
consider the lowly worm. After all, they are quiet and they don't eat
very much.
Earthworms can be found cose to the surface of the soil at night.
Sometimes they can be found crawling on the ground during a heavy
rainfall. They are easy to catch.
To make a home for the worms, use an old fish tank or other large,
deep container. Put layers of dirt, dead leaves, and sand in the
bottom of the container. Sprinkle water on each layer. Keep the
outside of the glass covered with dark paper. You can remove it to
watch your worms in action. Keep the container covered, but be sure
there are air holes in the cover.
You can feed the worms bits of lettuce, dead leaves, grass clippings,
or even tiny bits of table food. Remember to remove uneaten food
before adding any more. Keep the soil moist by adding a little water
each day.
Take your worm out of its home and study it under a magnifying glass.
Watch how it moves by expanding and contracting its muscles. Take a
close look at its head. Does the worm have eyes and ears? (Look
behind the first segment to find the mouth.)
You can learn how old the worm is by counting its segments. Believe
it or not, an adult worm can have about 110 segments.
Here's an interesting experiment you can try.
Play music near the worm house to see if they come to the surface.
(Yes, they can feel vibrations from the music!)
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